Western governments do not always get what they want, but arguing that oil is the key factor behind western actions in the Middle East is one of the most evidence-based statements that one can make.
Half a century ago, the US Secretary of State Dean Acheson said that Britain “has lost its empire, but has yet to find a role”. The same is true today.
The Gulf countries and Iran need to address their mutually contentious foreign policy issues, such as Syria, Iran's nuclear programme, and their relationships with the US.
